Pete Hartley

The Union of South Africa and East Lancashire As filmed by a man with eight legs I have to confess it was a stalking. I looked her up on Facebook and drove across the moors to where I’d worked out she would be. Rawtenstall. I parked the car an…

Something steamy in East Lands some years ago.

uneasywords.com/2021/06/09/the-union-of-south-africa-and-east

The Journey’s end perpetuated An appreciation of the David Cousins Celebration Concert held at Bangor University, Saturday 28th February 2026.

The Journey’s end perpetuated

An appreciation of the David Cousins Celebration Concert held at Bangor University, Saturday 28th February 2026.

Deny AI: be a Nifan I have invented a new acronym. I did not use AI. Here’s why, together with some thoughts on creative integrity and a prophecy of artificial indoctrination.  

Deny AI: be a Nifan

I have invented a new acronym. I did not use AI. Here’s why, together with some thoughts on creative integrity and a prophecy of artificial indoctrination.  

Picture of story in the Lancashire Post

The blue badge on Edith Rigby's home in Preston.

My latest fantasy to pad out the pages of the Lancashire Post unites three Prestonians above the streets that bear their names.

The Gaze of Gerontius The garden has gained a new old gargoyle. We wonder what he's thinking.

The Gaze of Gerontius

The garden has gained a new old gargoyle. We wonder what he's thinking.

A Bridge from too far An appreciation of a new album from long ago. Mysteries of ancient wonder. Endless plains, open roads. Sleepy mornings, strange days, wakeful nights. Ends that are beginnings and starts that never end. Secrets of smiles. Devotion in disguise. Vows kept and broken. Lips cut and closed. Potent poetry and plucking brilliant playing.

A Bridge from too far

An appreciation of a new album from long ago. Mysteries of ancient wonder. Endless plains, open roads. Sleepy mornings, strange days, wakeful nights. Ends that are beginnings and starts that never end. Secrets of smiles. Devotion in disguise. Vows kept and broken. Lips cut…

Uneasy Lancashire A pointer to some rural and coastal gems and the scribbling they inspired.

Thinking about next summer's holiday? Don't overlook enigmatic Lancashire.
uneasywords.com/2024/01/23/u...

Steaming into the subconscious How an excursion on a veteran steamship and the making of a miniature replica fuelled a perplexing retro-adventure.

How a small copy of a big boat helped build a book about an artist and an unwitting spy.

uneasywords.com/2019/03/05/steaming-into-the-subconscious

My final seasonal sale of the year is tomorrow on the A6 just north of Preston.

Five full-length novels, four story collections, three English hedgehogs, two traumatic plays, and a guide on how to be a pear tree.

Plus, some other stuff that I couldn't be bothered working into the rhyme.

Sigh no more (Extracted from Will at the Tower) Will rubbed the ache from his eyes.  He could remember nothing of the night. The mattress beneath him was coarse and sank sharp shards into his naked back. The su…

Another extract from Will at the Tower. And yes, it was a dagger he saw before him.

uneasywords.com/2019/07/10/s...

Sliced Mistletoe A seasonal excerpt from Will at the Tower, a novel exposing William Shakespeare’s secret seventeenth year.

A seasonal excerpt from Will at the Tower the story of Shakespeare's secret seventeenth year at Hoghton Tower in Lancashire.
uneasywords.com/2018/12/07/s...

Brief Encounter meets the Spy Who Came in from the cold.

Read the first chapter at:
uneasywords.com/2018/10/03/u...

Spare Parts from Sherlock Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s notorious attempt to kill off Sherlock Holmes was an infamous failure when an outraged public following demanded his resurrection and the author reluctantly obliged. Likewi…

Holmes came to Lancashire in 1986.

uneasywords.com/2018/09/05/s...

Emergency Hog-hedging An extract from ‘Great Hedgepectations’ the story of an orphaned hedgehog called Rip, suitable for adults and older children.

uneasywords.com/2025/12/08/e...

We had mince pies and were merry at the #Northernfictionalliance showcase at Blackwell's Manchester! Craft book, The Subtle Art of Short Fiction is available from the lovely Blackwell's team or your local bookshop 😀 #books💙📚

Briefish literary lacerations:

www.amazon.co.uk/Papercuts-sh...

Nine seasonal ghost stories.
www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Pr...

Virgin Years How a rock band rose from the waves to grasp a Canadian life-line and a comparison of two lead guitarists.

uneasywords.com/2025/11/30/v...

Breaking with Brockholes Troubled over bridged water. The Artisan Author takes stock and casts off from the lake he once loved.

Breaking with Brockholes

Troubled over bridged water. The Artisan Author takes stock and casts off from the lake he once loved.

Walking the Guild Wheel A guided circular walk around some of the prettiest parts of the city of Preston in Lancashire, using public transport to break the journey into four parts.

Walking the Guild Wheel

A guided circular walk around some of the prettiest parts of the city of Preston in Lancashire, using public transport to break the journey into four parts.

Whilst being weighed, Pete the hog took a peep at today's Lancashire Post which features an extract from Great Hedgepectations. All proceeds from the book go to Leyland Hedgehog Rescue.
www.amazon.co.uk/Great-Hedgep...

Rockfall on Heartbreak Hill A lack of appreciation for a 'missing' Strawbs album.

Rockfall on Heartbreak Hill

A lack of appreciation for a 'missing' Strawbs album.

A ghost story to chill the owners of the (former) Punch Bowl pub near Hurst Green in Lancashire, who demolished the listed building and refused to rebuild it. Published in last Saturday's Lancashire Post.

One of those dreams The first twelfth of the second story in Modern Gothic, an anthology of darkly mysterious fiction published by Fly on the Wall Press.

One year on from the unearthing of Modern Gothic, the spooky season is about to resurface. Sample some here:
uneasywords.com/2024/11/11/o...

Harris and Gromit A response to the unwrapping of a refurbished museum and the grand unanimated marvels within. Plus a hunt to rediscover a mythical lover.

Harris and Gromit

A response to the unwrapping of a refurbished museum and the grand unanimated marvels within. Plus a hunt to rediscover a mythical lover.

A dictator’s handbook for self-abuse Concentric thoughts on war-makers from an arachnid.

Concentric thoughts on war-makers from an arachnid.

I was not sat but sitting A pedantic plea, that is probably too late, and warning to fellow scribblers, editors and publishers.

A pedantic plea, that is probably too late, and warning to fellow scribblers, editors and publishers.

Making Making Myra Researching, rehearsing and staging the reconstructing of an icon of evil The most unsettling moment was when Andrew stopped the car.  We asked why he had done so.  He said it was the place. Which …

Making Myra has experienced a spike in sales since its cameo in the recent BBC documentary about the Moors Murders. Here's a post from 2018, explaining how and why we staged it.
uneasywords.com/2018/03/23/making-making

Still available for purchase and performance.
www.amazon.co.uk/Making-Myra-...

14 years ago I wrote a play about Ian Brady and Myra Hindley. Last night I discovered that Brady had obtained a copy. I'm obliged to a former Drama student for informing me. I was planning on watching the programme on iplayer, and I'm not sure I'd have survived the shock if I'd not been forewarned.